67 Years Later: Incredible Photos From The D-Day Invasionhttp://www.businessinsider.com/67th-anniversary-of-d-day-2011-6/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:10:46 -0400Sarah Rappaport and Leah Goldmanhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4deedbdcccd1d53245090000sfgjsTue, 07 Jun 2011 22:18:04 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4deedbdcccd1d53245090000
Great troll thread. For those of you who think he's real, don't feed him and he will die.
<a href="http://www.ipad3gconverter.net" target="_blank">http://www.ipad3gconverter.net</a> <a href="http://www.macipadconverter.net" target="_blank">http://www.macipadconverter.net</a> <a href="http://www.blu-raytoipadconverter.net" target="_blank">http://www.blu-raytoipadconverter.net</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee6ac849e2ae2d5c040000JATue, 07 Jun 2011 14:15:36 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee6ac849e2ae2d5c040000
Not quite; the disinformation campaign conducted by the British and Americans resulted in the Germans keeping a very powerful, intact panzer division in Calais; away from the invasion beaches.
By the time this division was sent to fight the allied invasion it was too late. If it had been utilized quickly by the germans, it would have been all over for the allies on Normandy.
Also, the allies encountered some very tough, veteran german infantry divisions that were not supposed to be anywhere near Normandy. In fact, the entire german opposition was such that what the allies had hoped to accomplish in about two weeks took about 3 months.
An amphibious invasion CANNOT succeed unless you have total air superiority, so no one will ever try an amphibious assault unless this is so. Of course, thousands of US and British airmen died to achieve this.
I believe it was the battle at Stalingrad that broke the back of the german advance into Russia, not the battle of Kursk (to this day, the largest tank battle in history). The entire German 6th Army surrendered at Stalingrad; hundreds of thousands of prisoners surrendered. After this battle the Germans only retreated.
It is a myth that because one has economic and materiel superiority over an opponent the outcome is a forgone conclusion. The Italians had all sorts of economic superiority when they invaded countries in N. Africa and they failed (the germans saved their ass). Ditto the USA in Vietnam. And frankly, if the Confederacy had marched straight into Washington DC after the first battle of Bull Run - and they could have, there was nothing to stop them - it would have been all over for the union army.
Yea, it helps to have the economic wherewithal to support a war, but ultimately it is the quality of the leadership (the generals) , the quality of the fighting soldier, determination to win no matter the cost, and most importantly, the side that makes the LEAST mistakes that will prevail. If course, Hitler's decision to engage in a two-front war almost worked, but it ultimately led to the german defeat.
Millions of Russians died as a result of the German invasion of Russia. But more Russians were killed by Joe Stalin. When the Germans invaded Russia, they were welcomed as liberators by the Ukrainians, Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians. Stalin's "Great Terror" exterminated of 30 MILLION souls. The Germans were welcomed into Finland to help the Finns against the Russian invaders of Finland.
When the USA entered WWII in Dec 1941 Stalin was the worst mass murderer in world history. When WWII ended in 1945 (for the allies and Western Europeans) Stalin was STILL the worst mass murderer in world history. Only years later did a worse mass murderer take the prize for the worst; Mao Tse Tung. His policies killed about 70 MILLION people.
(see "The Black Book of Communism," by Courtois, et. al.)
For eastern europe, WWII ended in 1990 , when the Soviet Union fell. For the Poles, Czechs, Rumanians, Slovaks, etc., they had to live with more Hitlers for another 45 years.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee5229ccd1d5515b230000LilguyTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:30:33 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee5229ccd1d5515b230000
This was the Greatest Generation's GREATEST DAY!
We all owe our parents, grandparents, maybe even great grandparents a massive debt of gratitude for taking on the Great Depression and the greatest threat to democracy the world has ever seen.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee50764bd7c86e69130000Rebel YellTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:23:18 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee50764bd7c86e69130000
Great troll thread. For those of you who think he's real, don't feed him and he will die.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee202ecadcbbc101220000JATue, 07 Jun 2011 08:57:18 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee202ecadcbbc101220000
You are correct; airborne troops (82ncd, 101st) on DDay were not dressed nor outfitted as shown in that picture. It is clearly a picture during a training exercise.
also, several other ;pictures are also not labelled correctly.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee15f949e2ae7b7b130000DNNTue, 07 Jun 2011 08:13:45 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dee15f949e2ae7b7b130000
Back then, that was once of the most good paying jobs.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedf59acadcbb4441010000makecapitalismhistoryTue, 07 Jun 2011 05:55:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedf59acadcbb4441010000
We fail ??? lol
Watch out reality, YOU ALL ARE FAILING RIGHT NOW !!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedcf6a4bd7c84a16020000Euro State TrooperTue, 07 Jun 2011 03:12:42 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedcf6a4bd7c84a16020000
Let's not forget it was Prescott Bush, that kindly funded the bullets that killed his fellow countrymen.
"His business dealings, which continued until his company's assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading with the Enemy Act, has led more than 60 years later to a civil action for damages being brought in Germany against the Bush family by two former slave labourers at Auschwitz and to a hum of pre-election controversy.
The evidence has also prompted one former US Nazi war crimes prosecutor to argue that the late senator's action should have been grounds for prosecution for giving aid and comfort to the enemy."
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedcd774bd7c8b57f180000SammyTue, 07 Jun 2011 03:04:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedcd774bd7c8b57f180000
Wars are the prove that we humans commit too many errors that leads to conflict. We are a very imperfect species. Digitally Undividedhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedcd76ccd1d5e56f190000kariatkinsTue, 07 Jun 2011 03:04:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4dedcd76ccd1d5e56f190000
It wasn't until the western front was opened up by the Normandy invasion that the lines started moving and when the Nazis were forced to reallocate resources that was the first time that the Soviets made any appreciable gains on the Eastern front. And that is why Normandy is the most decisive battle of the ETO in WWII. <a href="http://bit.ly/lwDh13" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/lwDh13</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4deda3914bd7c8d1491e0000DbTue, 07 Jun 2011 00:05:37 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4deda3914bd7c8d1491e0000
The whole memory? Your view of the world is so narrow that you'll believe anything at all.
Killing more civilians than soldiers is what made WW2 unique and dangerous to freedom. if you endorse those actions, get ready. Could happen to you some dayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded981fccd1d56d28060000MikePMon, 06 Jun 2011 23:16:47 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded981fccd1d56d28060000
I cannot believe you got 3 thumbs down but none of these cowards have dared to contradict your comment.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded91feccd1d5d21c1f0000AgMgrMon, 06 Jun 2011 22:50:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded91feccd1d5d21c1f0000
The gliders did bring equipment. Most of the glidermen went ashore by boat at the last minute.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded883ccadcbb8a02090000deebtMon, 06 Jun 2011 22:09:00 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded883ccadcbb8a02090000
there will be more debt, unfortunately
<a href="http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/926530-stock_creeper/178565-debt-ceiling-not-gonna-happen" target="_blank">http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/926530-stock_creeper/178565-debt-ceiling-not-gonna-happen</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded761accd1d5466f1a0000suckingmachineMon, 06 Jun 2011 20:51:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded761accd1d5466f1a0000
Does an "american" pig knows his history? 1929 anyone? The obscene robbing by your Wall Street gangsters, the injustice and consequent destruction of civilized life in Europe? What is different this time? The monstously bigger scale and the total absence of any prosecution.
The sound of the jewish/anglo suckingmachine (ie black hole, ie Madoff scheme) is truly deafening!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded7386cadcbbeb5a060000rightMon, 06 Jun 2011 20:40:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded7386cadcbbeb5a060000
just ask the rothchilds and their ilkhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded709bcadcbbf15a0b0000WHRMon, 06 Jun 2011 20:28:11 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded709bcadcbbf15a0b0000
Sarah, Leah,
Thanks for the photos. I would recommend you read Stephen Ambrose's book on D Day. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Day-June-Climactic-Battle-World/dp/068480137X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307405018&sr=1-1" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Day-June-Climactic-Battle-World/dp/068480137X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307405018&sr=1-1</a>
As I recall the Glider's were to land behind the German lines as the beach landing took place. I do not believe they carried supplies. Also that photo of Eisenhower may have been when he addressed the glider pilots before they embarked on their mission. It seems that the military planners had estimated that 70% would not survive. Thankfully, as often is the case, the planners were wrong.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded6ed2ccd1d5c1650a0000WHRMon, 06 Jun 2011 20:20:34 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded6ed2ccd1d5c1650a0000
Yes, we Americans often forget the Canadian contribution to D Day. As I remember Eisenhower insisted that the Canadians be the first to land...he said they deserved it considering Dieppe.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded666ecadcbb894b090000AgMgrMon, 06 Jun 2011 19:44:46 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded666ecadcbb894b090000
Don't confuse then with now. The young men who fought then were not mercenaries. Most were drafted and knew little about the world. They did liberate the concentration camps which did exist.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded6078ccd1d5c84a180000AgMgrMon, 06 Jun 2011 19:19:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded6078ccd1d5c84a180000
Say hi and thx to an airborne vet of D Day on facebook.
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/327-Glider-Infantry-Screaming-Eagle/109600119062869" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/pages/327-Glider-Infantry-Screaming-Eagle/109600119062869</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5d1549e2aee168120000Stephen_mcMon, 06 Jun 2011 19:04:53 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5d1549e2aee168120000
Incredibly brave souls!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5bbc4bd7c89658000000make socialism historyMon, 06 Jun 2011 18:59:08 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5bbc4bd7c89658000000
Uh, no, it was not just Stalin. It had more to do with the fact that Germany ruthlessly murdered millions of Eastern Europeans that Russians saw themselves as the protectors of as well as millions of Russians in their march (failed) to Moscow.
Dude, you fail on history, fail on economics, fail on understanding even your own country and neighbors in Europe. Why the HELL would ANYONE take your advise about anything, let alone a radical and dangerous (particularly to liberties) system of government that requires stealing from those that have and giving to those that don't simply because people like you think things are not "fair" at the moment? You=no credibility=FAIL!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5454cadcbbf024150000suckingmachineMon, 06 Jun 2011 18:27:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5454cadcbbf024150000
Just for the record:
Your zionist rulers (who btw own this cesspool of a country lock, stock and barrel) just have mowed down 14 unarmed protesters. The US (zionist) media is applauding relentlessly and almost no jew is protesting. This outlet is silent.
USA is a big lie.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5070cadcbbf124060000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 18:10:56 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded5070cadcbbf124060000
America did take over Germany and they forced their crappy capitalism upon us.
And the DDR had the better economic model, they just failed because of the wall.
According to west german economic research agencies the average economic growth and productivity growth was higher in east germany than in the west. They just have suffered from the isolation and the fact that the DDR was the only high developed country of the communist world.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded4fad49e2ae694d040000vadimzzzzzMon, 06 Jun 2011 18:07:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded4fad49e2ae694d040000
This battle did have some significance. But don't overestimate it. You can't compare it with the really deadly battles held on another side - USSR vs. Nazi. Casualties there were tens of thousands daily, and that was happening for 5 years.
As to the dispute capitalism over communism... watch this. Really mind blowing. (it’s 5 h in length)
<a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ring-of-power/" target="_blank">http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ring-of-power/</a>
<a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ring-of-power/" target="_blank">http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ring-of-power/</a>
<a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ring-of-power/" target="_blank">http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/ring-of-power/</a>http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded4a0449e2ae8a40030000nunyabizMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:43:32 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded4a0449e2ae8a40030000
If you are in fact German, Do you even know what happened? America did not "take over". And Russia WAS in control of part of Germany . And most of all East Germany( Demokratische Republik) had it's try at Communism.
What an Ultra Maroonhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded49f6ccd1d5df2b000000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:43:18 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded49f6ccd1d5df2b000000
That was just because of Stalin, after his dead they would had rebuild Germany again. With the power and engineering of Germany the communism would have taken over the US.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded4902cadcbb6819040000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:39:14 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded4902cadcbb6819040000
Hitler was no socialist, i was talking about the DDR. Hitler was a biologist, which is the 100% opposite of socialism.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded483eccd1d50628060000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:35:58 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded483eccd1d50628060000
Bullshit, Russia is a capitalist country today. Cuba has not Russia.
During the soviet era Cuba was much wealthier than today, but even the soviet union wasn't a full industrialized country.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded46544bd7c81430150000Damn you are stupidMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:27:48 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded46544bd7c81430150000
The Russian would have raped, killed, and made slaves of the Germans after the shit your did to them in WW2 before they crushed you. They had ZERO interest in rebuilding Germany you jackass. They would have been content keeping you poor and stupid forever...which apparently was the result with you (and possibly all of Germany if the majority thinks like you, which I doubt) regardless.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded45de4bd7c80e301a0000make socialism historyMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:25:50 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded45de4bd7c80e301a0000
Why not just wish that Hitler, your socialist God, would have stayed in power (likely by not attacking the USSR in the first place)?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded45574bd7c8e933000000Andrew in San FranciscoMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:23:35 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded45574bd7c8e933000000
This guy is dumb. Just ignore him. He's waiting to starve in Europe in a glorious revolution of government power and crushing of liberty.
Related to this article, seems to me that the modern leftists that run the Democratic Party of today in the U.S. would likely block us from intervening in Europe and they'd still be under Nazi rule today.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3ff94bd7c840280c0000TobyMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:00:41 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3ff94bd7c840280c0000
Not heading to D-Day. These guys are practicing somewhere. They are not in regular uniform. There are no rucksacks or bootsacks. Likely practicing in the States somewhere.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3fda4bd7c85628050000EmMon, 06 Jun 2011 17:00:10 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3fda4bd7c85628050000
Cuba has Russia - go figure!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3ab9ccd1d5b212020000Barrak "57 States" ObamaMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:38:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3ab9ccd1d5b212020000
Yes, it's a sad day for me and my fellow commrades...We where so close! Oh well, we shall prevail with Obamacare!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3a5bccd1d5b712000000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:36:43 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3a5bccd1d5b712000000
"That's what i never understand about you "Socialist" types, they're communist countries you can move to yet you live here and try and change us into one? why?"
Because communist countries like Cuba are small isolated islands. They can not be rich without help from huge industrial countries. It's impossible.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded37324bd7c8b11a130000yepMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:23:14 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded37324bd7c8b11a130000
That's what i never understand about you "Socialist" types, they're communist countries you can move to yet you live here and try and change us into one? why? my guess is you're just a bitter looser who cant make it on you're own esteem and are jealous of us that do.
And if you're beign sarcastic try beign more lucid as us old timers have a hard time telling!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3657cadcbb1677110000jbMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:19:35 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3657cadcbb1677110000
Teddy Roosevelt's oldest son was the only general and the oldest to land with the initial seaborne assault:
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt,_Jr" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt,_Jr</a>.
As an aside, we likely need to start trimming some entitlements starting with the baby boomers (extend the age for entitlements, etc). Let's see if they step up.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded349d4bd7c8ce18020000Heinz DoofenschmirtzMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:12:13 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded349d4bd7c8ce18020000
Yes D-Day was huge. My fellow Canadians stormed and took Juno Beach that day. Not many Americans know Canada's pivotal role on D-Day. But anyway, it was a decisive day but one could argue that the Battle of Stalingrad was as pivotal. After that the Germans never advanced through the Soviet Union again and the Soviets pushed the Germans all the way back to Berlin and then took it. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of D-Day was ensuring the Soviets never took all of Western Europe. Without the Western Allies in France after June 6, 1944, it's likely the Soviets would have reached the Atlantic and Western Europe would have never recovered from tyranny.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded33f3ccd1d5f306010000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:09:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded33f3ccd1d5f306010000
Don't worry, we will change Germany into a socialist state again.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded33b1cadcbb3373700000Leah GoldmanMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:08:17 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded33b1cadcbb3373700000
thanks. fixed, they are paratroopers heading to Normandy on D-Day.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3378ccd1d5fb7f1c0000Terrible Swift SwordMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:07:20 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded3378ccd1d5fb7f1c0000
@JeffJones18
I saw the same thing but I was struck with the fact they had very little gear. Picture 11 shows how the airborne strapped every damn thing they could waddle with. My uncle jumped with the 82nd on D-Day (minus hours).http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded328bccd1d5fb04040000iloMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:03:23 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded328bccd1d5fb04040000
"the battle that changed the tide of World War II." A very self-centered (and incorrect) American view. The outcome of the war became inevitable after the 1943 German advance into Russia was stopped. Read about the Kursk battle. Once a "quick victory" over Russia became impossible, the Allies' overwhelming superiority in resources and industrial output made the outcome inevitable.
A cross-channel amphibious assault is incredibly difficult, so the Western Allies waited until they had absolutely overwhelming force superiority. The German air force, for example, only managed ONE strafing run of the beach with only TWO planes during all of D-Day.
All these images of a blood bath on D-Day (see "Saving Private Ryan") come from only one beach of the assault, Omaha beach. That was a disaster, but the other beach areas did much better. Because they had such overwhelming force, even a disaster like Omaha beach, where whole companies of infantry were wiped out without firing a shot, still turned into a victory.
All that being said, God Bless those fighting men and women of yesterday and today who gave their lives so that my little girl can grow up free.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded32604bd7c8ef12110000John StanttonMon, 06 Jun 2011 16:02:40 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded32604bd7c8ef12110000
As the son of a WWII Vet I find the saddest part the fact that the jews have hijacked the whole memory (Hollywood, History Channel special etc..) by only focusing on their own chosen 6 million (if that, its never been proven) and dismissing/down playing the other 50 million that died.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2f78ccd1d5fe7d020000JeffJones18Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:50:16 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2f78ccd1d5fe7d020000
Ok, well first of all - let's give this photojournal a c minus for research. Photo number 8 is not an image of troops in a convoy waiting to arrive at the beaches. These are paratroopers in training - more than likely ones that have already earned their wings because they have their pants tucked into their boots. This was a luxury afforded only to paratroopers, and only after they have been certified. The fact that they have no insignia on their uniforms, and that they are obviously in daylight, and they are not wearing any camo makeup confirms this as well.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2d05ccd1d5287a090000yepMon, 06 Jun 2011 15:39:49 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2d05ccd1d5287a090000
Well, you can always move to North Korea or Cuba where beign a mama's boy needing big brother to censor, provide and protect you is still common ground. What a stroker!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2b1a49e2ae846b050000HeroMon, 06 Jun 2011 15:31:38 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2b1a49e2ae846b050000
Amazing. I am sure there were used as reference for the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2a92ccd1d56c74140000Patrick J. Buchanan Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:29:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded2a92ccd1d56c74140000
"Yes, it was a good war," writes Richard Cohen in his column challenging the thesis of pacifist Nicholson Baker in his new book, Human Smoke, that World War II produced more evil than good.
Baker's compelling work, which uses press clips and quotes of Axis and Allied leaders as they plunged into the great cataclysm, is a virtual diary of the days leading up to World War II.
Riveting to this writer was that Baker uses some of the same episodes, sources and quotes as this author in my own book out in May, Churchill, Hitler and 'The Unnecessary War.
On some points, Cohen is on sold ground. There are things worth fighting for: God and country, family and freedom. Martyrs have ever inspired men. And to some evils pacifism is no answer. Resistance, even unto death, may be required of a man.
But when one declares a war that produced Hiroshima and the Holocaust a "Good War," it raises a question: good for whom?
Britain declared war on Sept. 3, 1939, to preserve Poland. For six years, Poland was occupied by Nazi and Soviet armies and SS and NKVD killers. At war's end, the Polish dead were estimated at 6 million. A third of Poland had been torn away by Stalin, and Nazis had used the country for the infamous camps of Treblinka and Auschwitz.
Fifteen thousand Polish officers had been massacred at places like Katyn. The Home Army that rose in Warsaw at the urging of the Red Army in 1944 had been annihilated, as the Red Army watched from the other side of the Vistula. When the British celebrated V-E day in May 1945, Poland began 44 years of tyranny under the satraps of Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev.
Was World War II "a good war" for the Poles?
Was it a good war for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, overrun by Stalin's army in June 1940, whose people saw their leaders murdered or deported to the Gulag never to return? Was it a good war for the Finns who lost Karelia and thousands of brave men dead in the Winter War?
Was it a good war for Hungarians, Czechs, Yugoslavs, Romanians and Albanians who ended up behind the Iron Curtain? In Hungary, it was hard to find a women or girl over 10 who had not been raped by the "liberators" of the Red Army. Was it a good war for the 13 million German civilians ethnically cleansed from Central Europe and the 2 million who died in the exodus?
Was it a good war for the French, who surrendered after six weeks of fighting in 1940 and had to be liberated by the Americans and British after four years of Vichy collaboration?
And how good a war was it for the British?
They went to war for Poland, but Winston Churchill abandoned Poland to Stalin. Defeated in Norway, France, Greece, Crete and the western desert, they endured until America came in and joined in the liberation of Western Europe.
Yet, at war's end in 1945, Britain was bled and bankrupt, and the great cause of Churchill's life, preserving his beloved empire, was lost. Because of the "Good War," Britain would never be great again.
And were the means used by the Allies, the terror bombing of Japanese and German cities, killing hundreds of thousands of women and children, perhaps millions, the marks of a "good war"?
Cohen contends that the evil of the Holocaust makes it a "good war." But the destruction of the Jews of Europe was a consequence of this war, not a cause. As for the Japanese atrocities like the Rape of Nanking, they were indeed horrific.
But America's smashing of Japan led not to freedom for China, but four years of civil war followed by 30 years of Maoist madness in which 30 million Chinese perished.
For America, the war was Pearl Harbor and Midway, Anzio and Iwo Jima, Normandy and Bastogne, days of glory leading to triumph and the American Century.
But for Joseph Stalin, it was also a good war. From his pact with Adolf Hitler he annexed parts of Finland and Romania, and three Baltic republics. His armies stood in Berlin, Prague and Vienna; his agents were vying for power in Rome and Paris; his ally was installed in North Korea; his protege, Mao, was about to bring China into his empire. But it was not so good a war for the inmates of Kolyma or the Russian POWs returned to Stalin in Truman's Operation Keelhaul.
Is a war that replaces Hitler's domination of Europe with Stalin's and Japan's rule in China with Mao's a "good war"? We had to stop the killers, says Cohen. But who were the greater killers: Hitler or Stalin, Tojo or Mao Zedong?
Can a war in which 50 million perished and the Christian continent was destroyed, half of it enslaved, a war that has advanced the death of Western civilization, be truly celebrated as a "good war"?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded290f4bd7c8437c360000makecapitalismhistoryMon, 06 Jun 2011 15:22:55 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ded290f4bd7c8437c360000
I wish the soviets would have taken us over and not America.